In September 1996, Mr De Benedetti telephoned Mr Colaninno, still at Sogefi, which had grown under his leadership into a substantial outfit with operations in 11 countries, to ask him to take over as chief executive of Olivetti.

ECONOMIST: Meet the mechanic

Connolly's devotion to the Islanders is so deep and well documented (he even owns a French bulldog named Gillies) that he was initially tapped to narrate "Big Shot, " only to have the film's producers ask him to take over as director when their first choice left the project.

WSJ: Revisiting a Dark Time on the Island

Then he tried to ask a question and the congressman repeatedly talked over him.

CNN: Hannity-Ellison dust-up shows our broken politics

One, I would ask him if he thinks we can bring down the budget deficit over the long run without raising tax revenue somewhat.

NPR: Senate Committee Holds Hearing on Treasury Nominee

Because studies show that one of the most sensitive questions for detecting depression in someone is simply to ask him or her if they've been feeling very stressed out over the last couple of weeks.

CNN: Stress has taken over: How can I turn my mind off?

Speculation is swirling around whether he will ask coach Bill Parcells to return to the NFL to take over for him for the year.

CNN: Saints head coach expresses 'regret' in bounty scandal

Is this the man, the president's critics ask, who should be given a constitutional change to allow him to preside over the newly Panamanian canal?

ECONOMIST: The canal and the president